Mini face lift or lower face lift is a surgical intervention that removes excess loose skin by lifting the lower portion of the face and the upper portion of the neck, where traces of aging first start to show. The procedure is less invasive than full face lift, has a shorter recovery period, less chance of complications and minimal scarring. Mini face lift can lift the skin of the face and neck and minimize deep wrinkles under the nose, along the cheeks and across the neck. Lifting the skin of the lower third portion of the face restores the natural square shape of the jaw and removes sagging skin from the neck.
The upper half of the face can most often be successfully treated and corrected with less invasive procedures such as Botox or hyaluronic acid. On the other hand, the traces of aging on the lower half of the face are so prevalent that they can hardly be corrected with fillers or threads, without being excessive and unnatural at some point in life.
The best and the longest lasting results for lifting the skin of the lower portion of the face are achieved by Mini face lift.
Mini face lift
In order to achieve a natural and lasting result, this procedure, in addition to skin lift, also includes face and neck muscles tightening. A surgeon makes incisions in front or behind the ear from where the skin is lifted all the way to the layer of thin muscles that are connected to each other by the muscle membrane. These muscles are tighten during the intervention with special threads and thus lifted upwards. The incision in front of the ear allows for the lift of the lower portion of the face, and the incision behind the ear lifts the skin of the neck area.
Mini face lift can successfully treat:
- Deep face wrinkles
- Sagging neck skin
- Loose jaw skin
- The corners of the lips
- Under chin
The procedure itself takes about 2 hours, and recovery period is between 2 to 3 weeks. The threads are not removed, and the wound heals after about ten days. As with any surgical procedure, swelling occurs during the first few days, withdrawing rapidly afterwards. In 2 weeks, about 70 percent of the swelling withdraws, and the face gets its natural look after 3 to 4 weeks. Patients can return to their daily activities after 2 weeks. Mild swelling, almost imperceptible, persists for 2 weeks after that.
The intervention can be performed under local anaesthesia and the patient returns home the same day. Most patients prefer sedation over anaesthesia. This is different from general anaesthesia – patient is sleepy and relaxed but can maintain some communication with the staff during the intervention.
For the first two days following the surgery, there may be more pronounced swelling, and the patient will receive adequate therapy for it. There is no feeling of pain. It is necessary to wear a head and neck compression garments in order to minimize the possibility of tissue swelling.
This treatment is ideal for people in their 40s and 50s with visible signs of aging. For people over 55, mini face lift can be performed with a limited possibility of full skin lift. However, they most often require a full face lift. The combination of fillers and different face lift lasers significantly prolongs the possibility of using the mini face lift. In that way, people over 60 have minimal excess skin in the lower third of the face, which is ideal for this kind of intervention.
Mini face lift restores the youthful look but also preserves the natural appearance of the face and neck. The surgical procedure can be combined with other facial rejuvenation and lift treatments. No other face and neck tightening procedure can match the effectiveness and durability of the mini face lift.
References:
- Midface-lift patient satisfaction: A 5-year follow-up study
- Difference between a normal facelift and a mini facelift?
- Mayo clinic: Face-lift
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